BACOLOD: Five newly completed national government-funded community structures amounting to PHP44.3 million are benefiting barangay residents and students in various local government units in Negros Occidental, reports of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Tuesday showed. These projects include multi-purpose buildings located in Barangay Tan-awan, Kabankalan City worth PHP9.8-million; Barangay Tabu, Ilog, PHP9.9-million; Barangay Enclaro, Binalbagan, PHP14.8-million; Barangay 5, Isabela, PHP4.9 million; and Barangay Guinpana-an, Moises Padilla, also PHP4.9 million. 'These projects aim to foster community development and enhance the quality of life of the residents, and symbolize the strides towards a more connected and vibrant communities,' DPWH-Western Visayas Regional Director Sanny Boy Oropel said in a statement. In Barangay Tan-awan, the structure will serve as an evacuation center equipped with comfort rooms, an administrative office, a kitchen and dining area, a multi-purpose functi on room, and a rainwater tank, and will also function as a venue for barangay interactive learning engagements, sessions, and other community activities. The Barangay Tabu facility is designed as a public market with dedicated sections for both dry and wet goods with spaces to accommodate more vendors and attract new merchants. In Barangay Enclaro, the two-story multi-purpose building will serve as a dormitory for the students of Carlos Hilado Memorial State University coming from distant areas while in Barangay 5, the structure designed as barangay hall functions as the office for the village chief and meeting space for the Barangay Council, and hosts various barangay activities such as fiesta, religious event, medical mission, distribution of relief goods and sports competition. The community hall in Barangay Guinpana-an is also a two-story building that offers a space for barangay officials to conduct meetings and organize various community activities. Source: Philippines News Agency